Massive protest against private pension scheme

Several trade unions in the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Katunayake staged a massive protest yesterday against the Sri Lankan government’s proposed pension scheme for the private sector.

The protest, organised by 26 trade unions affiliated to the private sector, was held at the airport junction on the main Katunayake-Colombo Road.

A large number of FTZ workers, a majority of them reportedly from the garment factories in the zone, participated in the protest.

The local media reported that the protest had caused a massive traffic block in the area.

The protesters have called on the government to withdraw the proposed legislation to implement the pension scheme, which they claim is not in the best interests of the working masses. (www.colombopage.com)